The Knicks Injuries/Tough Schedule

Carmelo Anthony is on his way back to the big apple to have his right knee examined...AGAIN! Melo only scored a whopping 9pts on 12 shots (3-12) with 5 rebounds and 3 TO's in his first game in Denver since the trade to New York. He left the game in the third quarter as the Knicks where beat down by The Denver Nuggets in a 117-94 loss. Carmelo said "it started tightening up, started stiffening up. Some movements that I couldn't make, moving laterally, felt like I didn't have no pop, no power, I tried it in the second half coming out after halftime and i couldn't move. I'm going to get it (knee) drained, get the fluid out, get to the bottom of it quick so I can get back on the court." Carmelo thinks he pushed himself a little too hard to get back and play saying "I was being naive to myself, trying to psyche myself out, 'I can do it, I can do it'." Coach Woodson spoke on Melo injury saying "I kind of rolled with what he was thinking, he wanted to play and we wanted to play him. In the third quarter he had to pull out. Melo doesn't pull out of very many games. Obviously, it's bothering him. We're going to send him back to be evaluated." Tyson Chandler also went down with a knee injury in Denver when he bumped knees with G Corey Brewer. He was helped off by teammates and the team is calling the injury a contusion of his left knee. If there is anything good that came from lastnights injury to Tyson is that Tyson suffered a bone bruise on the same knee in The Knicks last preseason game but played in the season opener and hasn't missed a game this season. Tyson Chandler is list as probable for Friday's game against Portland. One of The Knicks goals coming into lastnight was to slow down the up tempo style of play The Nuggets run...#EPICFAIL! Denver had 20 fastbreak points and 22 points off Knicks turnovers. Denver also outscored New York in the paint 62-24 and outrebounded them by 20 (53-33). One of the only bright spots was Iman Shumpert, who scored 20pts. Iman went 8-10 from the field and hit 4 out of 5 3pointers he attempted. Coming down the stretch it doesn't get any easier for New York with MANY TOUGH games, tough games on the road and at home. @Clippers @Raptors (who beat NY this season already) @Boston @Miami @Atlanta @Thunder @Bulls and @Cleveland (beat NY this season as well). @ Home against the Raptors, Memphis, Boston, Hawks, Bucks and Indiana. With Amare out, Melo out and Tyson questionable (ALL WITH KNEE INJURIES) The Knicks road to catch The Pacers and stay above Brooklyn in the east becomes even harder with that scedule. The Knicks need to find some heart for this tough stretch or we are looking at another first round exit.